Nature for Wellness
“Willow Place is delighted to announce a new partnership with photographic artist and cinematographer, Marek Zaleski. Zaleski is the founder of the Vancouver Island Museum of Nature in BC, and he was inspired by the novel coronavirus pandemic to share his healing videos with non-profit groups serving vulnerable populations.
Artist understands that our residents in shelter may not be able to readily access green spaces due to personal safety issues, as related to family violence and as also impacted by current health precautions with coronavirus. The hope is for Willow Place to pilot a healing environment called an "The Earth Hours" Room in the months ahead.
To help Willow Place get started with "The Earth Hours", Zaleski is donating a number of 30 minute and 3 minute nature videos to use for staff wellness and client therapeutic support. Willow Place foresees that a dedicated "The Earth Hours" space could be used for groups, activities, expressive arts-based therapy, trauma-informed yoga, cultural programming, and staff wellness.” .
Pam Hadder - Community Coordinator Willow Place, Inc.
Woman & Children’s Family Violence Services in Winnipeg
(June 15th 2020)
"VIX MEDICATRIX NATURAE"
Hippocrates
The Healing Power of Nature
Palliative
Reflections
Nature provides a profound healing energy that helps
reduce our symptoms, cure our wounds, worries,
and breathes into us creative and rejuvenating life forces.
"Palliative Reflections" (iEcotherapy) was created as a
holistic approach to bring the therapeutic effects of nature
into places of care and healing.
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"Palliative Reflections"
"Palliative Reflections" was formulated as an audio-visual
sensory ambiance, by Visual Artist and Founder of
iEcotherapy - Marek Julian Zaleski. Marek aims to provide
an emotional, psychological and spiritual support for the
well-being of patients, caregivers and visitors in care
settings.
Why “Palliative Reflections” matter !
Stress and anxiety have profound effects on your healing abilities
as they can suppress the immune system. Recent studies
suggest that chronic stress may actually cause DNA damage. Anxiety, may switch on a gene that speeds up the spread of the cancer, or reduce effectiveness of the treatment.
Research has linked social isolation and loneliness to
higher risks for a variety of physical and psychological conditions: high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer's Disease, and premature death.
"Palliative Reflections" may be particularly beneficial in the following applications:
-Help to alleviate stress and anxiety.
-Help to cope with the effects of isolation.
-Support for Dementia and Alzheimer.
-Help to cope with "compassion fatigue"
-Help to cope with grief.
-Support in pain management.
"Palliative Reflections"
will be released in three distinctive series:
"Serenity"
for Patients, Caregivers and Visitors
"Solace"
for Caregivers (Mindfulness) Mobile
"Silent Oasis"
for Individuals with Dementia and Alzheimer
Serenity
In a continuous display mode (silent or with
the sound, “Palliative Reflections” will transform
indoor spaces into calming and restorative
environments, to support reflection, relaxation,
creativity, and heightened sensory awareness.
“Serenity” will help with dissolution of
negative and limiting thoughts and feelings that
are held in the subconscious. It will help increase
creativity and positive thinking.
“Those living in Long-Term Care do not have the
opportunity to access nature in the same way they
did earlier in their lives. Marek’s "Palliative
Reflections" - iEcotherapy is beautiful and peaceful.
They help us all feel connected to the colours and
sounds of the amazing world around us; the next
best thing to being there!
Liz Friis
Director of Resident Lifestyle & Community
Programs Glacier View Lodge Comox Valley, BC
Solace
For Caregivers, who are involved in the care of patients at
the end of life are at risk of developing “compassion fatigue”
emotional exhaustion, affecting their emotional, and
spiritual well being.
“Solace” Mindfulness Mobile
is one of a kind holistic solution, helping to reduce level
of daily stress, to increase level of positive thinking, better
focusing, and to help restore inner peace.
Those who participated in the mindful therapeutic based
portion of the pilot project, report a shift in how they felt
following the use of Marek’s iEcotherapy as a tool in
mindful practice. We endorse iEcotherapy as an effective
tool with potential healing applications across a variety
of healing domains”
Allan Campbell - M.A., RCC MH&A
Program Manager Kwakiutl District Council Health
Campbell River BC
"Palliative Reflections" series is a unique holistic tool to increase
quality of life to Dementia and Alzheimer patients
and those who are terminally ill.
Campbell River Hospice has been working very
closely with Marek Zaleski. Together, we have
developed specific iEcotherapy content for “Palliative Reflections” for our palliative clients upon which we can deliver nature to them at home, in the hospital, and in long term care facilities. "Palliative Reflections” is geared to be calming, cooling and strikingly beautiful.”
Jacqueline Spies Executive Director
Campbell River Hospice Society
Campbell River BC 2014
Nature and its beauty is universally appreciated
and enjoyed, making “Palliative Reflections” uniquely inclusive therapeutic tool, no matter the age, cultural background, language, or other factors of human diversity.
